Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-06-09
GRAZIELLA THE MODEL.


pan1on:
"Where on earth, old fellow, do you
rake up subjects for your little stories ?"
"Ah," / exclaimed, edo you find my
little stories so trivial?n
| confess was Just little nettled by
the tone of the question, which was not
complimentary, but on the contrary
seemed to imply slight feeling of scorn
for my brain labors past, present and
future. I was hurt, but having no ex-
traorGinary opinion of my friends liter
airy judgement, | stifed my anger and re-
piled in calm, unruffied voice:
To-day, my good friend, you May per-
haps see the kind of place wherein L not
unfrequently find subjects for my little
stories,' as you are pleased to call them.
AT the same time, I continued, with that
calm irony for which I am noted, "you
must keep your eyes open; for there are
certain people who are unable to see
beyond their own noses, and who value
literary work by it's bulk rather than by
its quality. Altar of roses, my friend,
is offensive to the coarse sense of certain
people, and I have no doubt there are
men living in this world who would ask
in their ignorance where Shakespeare
picked up the materials for the little
story of Hamlet"
As l concluded my bitterly sarcastic
speech, we found ourselves in sort of
courtyard built in the Italian style of no
particular era, at the end of which was a
door cut in the wall of an old house
Guarding this door were two lions in an
attitude suggesting that they intended to
hurl themselves against the bars of their
cage. Their eyes were flashing, their
mouths open, and their tongues protrud-
ing; but as these terrible beasts were only
in the form of rough design sketched
on the wall, we boldly approached the
door and passed it with no further mis-
hap than a slight soiling of our coats
with whitewash and crumbling plaster.
For several days past Frederic Holt
had been almost a fixture In his studio,
working with tremendous energy on a
picture in which he intended to disp play
all his technique, and at the same time
reveal his knowledge of drawing and of
color. His great desire was at the same
time to arouse the interest of particular
patron well-known to the community of
artists; but on account of some circum-
stances only known to himself. Frederic
was compelled to pat the finishing touch
es to his already over-elaborated picture
with the sickening conviction that, after
exhibition, and there be subjected to the
cold and unsympathetie criticisms of a
hard-hearted public
Our friend had studied for many years
in Europe, and not only had a great re-
putat1On, but had also produced a few
p1ctures-which is a pardox I do not care
TO explain. AS soon as it was known that
an interesting subject was under treat
ment on his easel, friends and the public
generally were attracted to his studio.
According to his custom, the artist had
chosen an historical subjec and fondly
believing that his talent would be judged
from the size of his picture, he had filled
an immense canvss with a representation
called "Neros Dream" This represent
ed barelegged man, confined in the
LAGOON folds of streaming toga, stand
ing on the ruins of a Parthenonic build
ing and wildly shivering at the sight of
multitude of phantoms that were scan
tily dressed in sheets and ornamented
with clanking iron chains.
We found our friend moving nervous
~ about among his visitors, constantly
approaching his picture to turn it little
the right or left, arranging the curtains
TO obtain the best possible light, and at
the same time watching the faces of his
guests as if he hoped to read the secrets
of their very souls.
Superb, grand, gigantic, massive, bold,
delicate, fine, delightful, Michelangeles-
que," were the adjectives freely banded
about.
"Do you not find relief In the picture,
general mastery of color, and good
rspective?" Frederic modestly inquir-
ed, while he enjoyed to the full the praises
of bis indulgent brother artists.
Magnificent! perfect!" they exclaim-
ed; and then turned their backs to the
picture to enjoy the more refreshing sight
of key of beer that was in the corner of
the studio and served to modify the Gus
tomary aeidity of the critical throat and
voice.
In the din of voices no one in the room
seemed to hear several discreet taps on
the door; as there was no response to
them, the portiere that screened the en-
trance was quitely raised, and the figure of
a young girl appeared.
"Ah! that's Graziella!" exclaimed sever
al of the men.
"Come in" said Frederic, advancing to-
ward her and holding oct his hand.
II fear | viii disturb you,'' she said
with foreign but agreeable accent
Excuse me; / will come back another
day."
Frederic, who would willingly have de-
tanned the girl, saw her fit from the room
with the grace and shyRess of chamois.
There goes an exception to her sex in
general and her nation in particular"
said the artist with haIf-s1gh.
"Ah. how charitablei how gallant! how
Interestingly! exclaimed one of the young
men present. "But / should like to teach
your exception good manners" he added.
rushing to the window and making pan
tomlmlo signs to the retreating Graziella,
who turned her back on him, evidently
vexed for having INDUCED in RETROSPECT
tive glance.
The unabashed young fellow approach
ed the artist, and digging him in the ribs.
said
'sYou are alucky dog. Holt! We under
stand, you know. Artist and model. Lake
Of Como and Ovid!'
The turn the conversation had taken
caused some anger in the breast of the
painter of ''Nero's Dream" and drawing
himself up, he explained with indignant
warmth that the girl was no ordinary